Mounting apparatus for goods channel

ABSTRACT

A mounting apparatus for the storage of merchandise in a vending machine includes a base plate, and a number of goods channels for mounting on the base plate. The base plate defines two first slots. Each of the two first slots includes a first opening and a second opening. Each of the goods channels includes a first hook and a second hook and a number of complementary openings and slots to allow each channel to be secured on the base plate against both horizontal and vertical movement, without the use of screws or rivets.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a mounting apparatus for goods channels in a vending machine.

2. Description of Related Art

Vending machines have goods channels for accommodating goods for sale. The goods channels are fixed on a base plate by rivets or screws in a typical vending machine. The processes to attach the goods channels to the vending machine may be laborious and inefficient.

Therefore, there is a need for improvement in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric, exploded view of an embodiment of a mounting apparatus for goods channels.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a circled portion II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a circled portion III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the mounting apparatus for goods channel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a circled portion V of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

FIG. 1 shows a mounting apparatus for goods channel includes a base plate 10 and a plurality of goods channels 20 mounted on the base plate 10.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the base plate 10 defining a plurality of first slots 11. Each of the plurality of first slots 11 includes a first opening 111 and a second opening 112 communicating with the first opening 111. A first bending portion 113 extends upwards from a bottom edge of the base plate 10. Two round protruding portions 114 protrude from the base plate 10. A second bending portion 115 extends downwards from a top edge of the base plate 10. In one embodiment, a width of the first opening 111 is greater than a width of the second opening 112.

Each of the plurality of goods channels 20 includes two parallel side plates 21 and a connecting plate 22 connecting the two side plates 21. A bending tab 23 perpendicularly extends to an inner space of the goods channel 20 from a top edge of each of the two side plates 21. A rectangular third opening 24 is defined in each bending tab 23. A first hook 241 is formed in each third opening 24. Each first hook 241 includes a first bending bracket 2411 and a second bending bracket 2412 extending from two opposite edges of the third opening 24. The first bending bracket 2411 and the second bending bracket 2412 are connected to each other. A round through hole 25 is defined in each bending tab 23.

In one embodiment, a width of the first bending bracket 2411 is greater than a width of the second bending bracket 2412. The width of the first bending bracket 2411 is less than a width of the first opening 111. The width of the first bending bracket 2411 is greater than a width of the second opening 112. A width of the second bending bracket 2412 is equal to the width of the second opening 112. A diameter of the protruding portion 114 is slightly greater than a diameter of the through hole 25.

A fourth opening 26 is defined in one of the two side plates 21 of each goods channel 20. A second hook 261 is formed in each fourth opening 26. Each second hook 261 includes a third bending bracket 2611 and a fourth bending bracket 2612 extending from two opposite edges of the fourth opening 26. The third bending bracket 2611 and the fourth bending bracket 2612 are connected to each other. A second slot 211 is defined in another of the two side plates 21 of each goods channel 20. Each second slot 211 includes a fifth opening 2111 and a sixth opening 2112 communicating with the fifth opening 2111.

In one embodiment, a width of the third bending bracket 2611 is greater than a width of the fourth bending bracket 2612. The width of the third bending bracket 2611 is less than a width of the fifth opening 2111. The width of the third bending bracket 2611 is greater than a width of the sixth opening 2112. The width of the fourth bending bracket 2612 is equal to the width of the sixth opening 2112.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show assembly, in which the second hook 261 of a goods channel 20 is aligned with the second slot 211 of an adjacent goods channel 20. The third bending bracket 2611 passes through the fifth opening 2111 and slides into the sixth opening 2112 from the fifth opening 2111, to prevent the two adjacent goods channels 20 moving in a horizontal direction. The base plate 10 is moved toward a top of the two adjacent goods channels 20. The first bending bracket 2411 passes through the first opening 111 and slides into the second opening 112 from the first opening 111. The protruding portion 114 passes through the through hole 25 to prevent the two adjacent goods channels 20 moving in a vertical direction on the base plate 10. The goods channels 20 are mounted on the base plate 10.

To disassemble, the base plate 10 is lifted up from the goods channels 20 to disengage the protruding portion 114 and the through hole 25. The base plate 10 is pulled outwards to slide the first bending bracket 2411 into the first opening 111 from the second opening 112. The base plate 10 is lifted up to be detached from the goods channels 20. Two adjacent goods channels 20 are moved relative to each other to slide the third bending bracket 2611 in the fifth opening 2111 from the sixth opening 2112. The adjacent goods channels 20 are thus detached from each other.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and the arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mounting apparatus for goods channels, comprising: a base plate defining two first slots; wherein each of the two first slots comprises a first opening and a second opening communicating with the first opening; and a first goods channel and a second goods channel mounted on the base plate; wherein each of the first goods channel and the second goods channel defines a third opening and a fourth opening; a first hook is formed in the third opening; a second hook is formed in the fourth opening; a second slot is defined in the second goods channel; the second slot comprises a fifth opening and a sixth opening communicating with the fifth opening; the first goods channel and the second goods channel are prevented from moving in a vertical direction on the base plate by the first hook passing through the first opening and sliding in the second opening from the first opening; and the first goods channel and the second goods channel are prevented from moving in a horizontal direction by the second hook passing through the fifth opening and sliding in the sixth opening from the fifth opening.
 2. The mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein two protruding portions protrude from the base plate; a through hole is defined in each of the first goods channel and the second goods channel; and each of the two protruding portion passes through each of the through holes to mount the first goods channel and the second goods channel on the base plate.
 3. The mounting apparatus of claim 2, wherein a diameter of the protruding portion is slightly greater than a diameter of the through hole.
 4. The mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first hook comprises a first bending bracket and a second bending bracket extending from two opposite edges of the third opening; and the first bending bracket and the second bending bracket are connected to each other.
 5. The mounting apparatus of claim 4, wherein a width of the first bending bracket is greater than a width of the second bending bracket.
 6. The mounting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the width of the first bending bracket is less than a width of the first opening; the width of the first bending bracket is greater than a width of the second opening; and a width of the second bending bracket is equal to the width of the second opening.
 7. The mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second hook comprises a third bending bracket and a fourth bending bracket extending from two opposite edges of the fourth opening; and the third bending bracket and the fourth bending bracket are connected to each other.
 8. The mounting apparatus of claim 7, wherein a width of the third bending bracket is greater than a width of the fourth bending bracket.
 9. The mounting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the width of the third bending bracket is less than the width of the fifth opening; the width of the third bending bracket is greater than a width of the sixth opening; and the width of the fourth bending bracket is equal to the width of the sixth opening.
 10. A mounting apparatus for goods channels, comprising: a base plate defining two first slots; wherein each of the two first slots comprises a first opening and a second opening communicating with the first opening; two protruding portions protrude from the base plate; and a first goods channel and a second goods channel mounted on the base plate; wherein each of the first goods channel and the second goods channel defines a third opening, a fourth opening, and a through hole; a first hook is formed in the third opening; a second hook is formed in the fourth opening; a second slot is defined in the second goods channel; the second slot comprises a fifth opening and a sixth opening communicating with the fifth opening; the first hook passes through the first opening and slides in the second opening from the first opening, the protruding portion passes through the through hole to prevent the first goods channel and the second goods channel from moving in a vertical direction on the base plate; and the second hook passes through the fifth opening and slides in the sixth opening from the fifth opening, to prevent the first goods channel and the second goods channel from moving in a horizontal direction.
 11. The mounting apparatus of claim 10, wherein a diameter of the protruding portion is slightly greater than a diameter of the through hole.
 12. The mounting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first hook comprises a first bending bracket and a second bending bracket extending from two opposite edges of the third opening; and the first bending bracket and the second bending bracket are connected to each other.
 13. The mounting apparatus of claim 12, wherein a width of the first bending bracket is greater than a width of the second bending bracket.
 14. The mounting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the width of the first bending bracket is less than a width of the first opening; the width of the first bending bracket is greater than a width of the second opening; and a width of the second bending bracket is equal to the width of the second opening.
 15. The mounting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second hook comprises a third bending bracket and a fourth bending bracket extending from two opposite edges of the fourth opening; and the third bending bracket and the fourth bending bracket are connected to each other.
 16. The mounting apparatus of claim 15, wherein a width of the third bending bracket is greater than a width of the fourth bending bracket.
 17. The mounting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the width of the third bending bracket is less than the width of the fifth opening; the width of the third bending bracket is greater than a width of the sixth opening; and the width of the fourth bending bracket is equal to the width of the sixth opening. 